spontaneous generation

American  

noun

Biology.

1. abiogenesis.

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spontaneous generation British  

noun

1. Also called: abiogenesis.  a theory, widely held in the 19th century and earlier but now discredited, stating that living organisms could arise directly and rapidly from nonliving material

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spontaneous generation Scientific  

1. The supposed development of living organisms from nonliving matter, as maggots from rotting meat. The theory of spontaneous generation for larger organisms was easily shown to be false, but the theory was not fully discredited until the mid-19th century with the demonstration of the existence and reproduction of microorganisms, most notably by Louis Pasteur.

2. Also called abiogenesis

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Etymology

Origin of spontaneous generation

First recorded in 1650–60

Compare meaning

How does spontaneous-generation compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• spontaneous generation vs. biogenesis

Example Sentences

Put another way, the show refutes the idea of the spontaneous generation of masterpieces.

From New York Times

Through that process, Pasteur not only refuted the theory of spontaneous generation, but he also demonstrated that microorganisms were everywhere.

From Salon

It's hard to fathom this stuff, but it's more complicated than spontaneous generation.

From Salon

Others were the product of imperfect observation, such as Lamarck’s theory that acquired characteristics could be inherited or the theory of spontaneous generation.

From Los Angeles Times

This will presumably require that such competing theories as the story given in Genesis and Aristotle's theory of spontaneous generation be taught along with Darwinism.

From Scientific American